Fertilizer-distributer.



PATENTED JU'LY 28, 1908.

` R. L; GRAVES.

PB-RTILIZER DISTRIBUTBR. APPLICATION FILED MAY 6, 1907.

l vw@ nto@ ROBERT LEE GRAVES, OF GENTERVILLE, MISSISSIPPI.

FERTILIZER-.DISTRIBU'TER.

. l Specification of-Letters Patent.

Patented July as, 1908.

Application filed May 6, 1907., Serial No. 372,074.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT LEE GRAVES, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Centerville, in the county of Wilkinson and State of Mississippi, have invented new and useful Improvements in Fertilizer- Distributers, of which the following is a speciiication. v

This invention relates to Jfertilizer distributers adapted primarily for manual pro.- pulsion and for directing fertilizer at the will of the operator.

The main object of the present invention is the production of a fertilizer distributer adapted to be propelled by the operator alon any desired line and to automatically an evenly distribute the fertilizer during such pro ulsion.

T e invention will be described lin the following specil'ication, reference being had particularly to the accompanying drawings7 in which:- v

Fi ure 1 is a view in side elevation of a fertilizer distributer 'constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan of the same. Fig. 4 is a transverse section of the distributer taken through the shield plate.'`

Referrin particularlyV to the drawings, my improved ertilizer distributer is preferably arranged in the form of a wheelbarrow comprising side bars 1 formed at one end to provide handle portions 2 and at the opposite end to receive an axle 3 on which is mounted the shaft supporting wheel 4. A latform 5 is secured on the side bars 1 of the ame preferabl immediately in rear of the supporting whee 4, said platform being formed adjacent one side throughout its length with an opening 6.

in any proper manner, the relative y lower portion of the ho perbeing projected through the opening 6in lille form of a semi-cylindrical casing 8. Within the casing 8 and rearwardly supported in the end walls of the hopper is a feed screw 9 the o erating shaft 10 of which projects forward y beyond the forward wall of the hopper and is terminally provided with a gear 11 arranged to mesh with an enlarged gear 12 secured on the supporting wheel 4, or fixed to said wheel to revolve therewith. The respective ends of the shaft 10 are preferably supported in the bracket plate 13 secured to one side bar of the frame and having laterally projecting sections 14 to support the ends of the shaft. The casing 8 at the relatively rear end is formed with a discharge opening 15, so arranged that the material affected by the feed screw 9 will be directed to and discharged through the opening 15. A guard or shield plate 15a covers the deliveryv end of the screw above the opening 15 and prevents discharge of any of the material except that fed by the screw. An adjustable gate or cover plate 16 is provided to permit adjustment of the size of the discharge opening, said gate being shaped to conform to the shape of the casing and formed with a laterally projecting arm 17 having at the relatively forward edge a depending flange 18. The flange 18 is formed with a threaded opening to receive a screw rod 19, the terminals of which rodl are mounted in edge flanges 2() depending from the latform 5. Beyond one flange 20, preferab y the rear flange, the screw rod 19 is bent into ring or other form to provide an operating handle 21 whereby the screw may be conveniently rotated and the cover or gate 16 adjusted longitudinally of the casing 8 to limit the size of the discharge opening as desired.

In use with fertilizer of the desired character in the hop er, the operator grasping the handles 2 wil move the distributer forward on the supporting wheel 4. This movement imparts rotation to the feed screw 9 vwith the effect to force the fertilizer longitudinally of the hopper and through the discharge opening 15. By adjustment of the gate 16 said opening may be controlled to vary the quantity of material discharged therethrough thus enabling the operator to gage the supply of fertilizer in accordance 4with the particular connection. A hopper 7 is supported upon the latform The parts are preferably'of metal to avoid undue Wear and provide the desired lightness and it is to be understood that they may be varied in roportion to accommodate a greater or ess quantity of material if desired.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new is A fertilizer distributer comprising a frame, a forwardly disposed supporting wheel therefor, a ho per mounted on the frame, a movable fee screw having suitable connections with the su porting wheel, whereby propulsion of the istributer will operate the screw, said screw seated in a semicylindrical casing having a discharge opening at its rear end, a

guard plat extehdig iwardly from the In testimony whereof, al'ix my signature rear Wall of the hopper and over said openin presence of two witnesses.

ing an adjustable gate adapted to close the disczharge opening having a laterally pro- ROBERT LEE GRAVES' jecting arm provided with a threaded open# Withe'SseSi ing, and means for adjusting the gate rela- T. N. L. ANDERSON.

tive to said openiiig'. J. H.- DIXON. 

